Approach to Therapy
Jess understands that reaching out for support can be challenging. She strives to create a safe and non-judgemental environment, prioritising collaboration within the therapeutic space. During the first few sessions, Jess focuses on understanding her clients' individual needs and establishing personalised treatment goals. She tailors therapy to meet these needs, utilising evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Jess is passionate about EMDR Therapy as she has witnessed the profound and positive changes it has had on many of her client’s mental health and wellbeing.
Jess finds her work deeply meaningful and considers it a privilege to support her clients in enhancing their ability to cope with life’s challenges.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR is a therapeutic technique that enables individuals to process and heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are a result of traumatic and disturbing life experiences. EMDR is not just useful for treating trauma however, it has also been shown to be helpful for treating anxiety, phobias, depression, coping with transitions, improving self-confidence, resolving internal conflicts and complicated grief, and so much more.
EMDR recognises and respects the minds innate ability to heal itself, the same way the body does. During an EMDR session, clients are helped to identify a specific issue they would like to work on. Clients will be asked to bring to mind an associated image, and notice what feelings, body sensations and thoughts arise. Clients are guided through ‘bilateral stimulation’ - which can involve a series of eye movements, listening to alternating left/right sounds in headphones, or holding a device that pulsates/taps in alternate hands.
This ‘bilateral stimulation’ is believed to help reprocess the traumatic memory, by overloading the working memory. Three things usually occur as a result, the memory become more distant, the emotional intensity connected to the memory diminishes and more positive ways of thinking emerge. Throughout an EMDR reprocessing session, the client remains fully conscious, alert and in complete control at all times.
EMDR therapy is known for producing rapid and long lasting results. Many individuals report significant improvements in their emotional well-being and overall mental health after engaging in EMDR therapy.
Further information can be found here - https://emdraa.org/emdr-resources/
“It is the duty of the therapist to move in tune with the patient, rather than forcing the patient to move in tune with the therapist.”
Irvin D. Yalom